Instrument training flight leaving phx overshoots cleared altitude.

Attributes
ACN	460000
Time
Date	200001
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0601 To 1200
Place
Locale Reference	airport : phx.airport
State Reference	AZ
Altitude	msl bound lower : 8500 msl bound upper : 8800
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Daylight
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : p50.tracon
Operator	other
Make Model Name	Chancellor 414A & C414
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	climbout : intermediate altitude
Route In Use	departure : on vectors
Flight Plan	VFR
Person 1
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : multi engine pilot : instrument pilot : cfi
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 115 flight time total : 5800 flight time type : 120
ASRS Report	460000
Person 2
Function	instruction : trainee
Qualification	pilot : instrument pilot : multi engine pilot : commercial
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : overshoot non adherence : clearance
Independent Detector	other controllera
Resolutory Action	controller : issued advisory flight crew : returned to assigned altitude
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Flight Crew Human Performance
Primary Problem	Flight Crew Human Performance
Air Traffic Incident	Pilot Deviation

Narrative:

I departed phx airport in a twin engine C414. I was the PNF and acting as the CFI, giving instrument instruction, to a commercial/multi/instrument rated pilot. We departed VFR from runway 26L (with a class B departure clearance) and were subsequently given a swbound turn and a VFR climb to 8500 ft (restr to 8500 ft). My student was flying (under the hood) and I was intently scanning for traffic. Even though I was trying to keep an eye on my student, and his track and altitude, I was very intent on looking for traffic in this busy airspace. When my scan got back to my student and his instruments, I noticed that he was approaching 8800 ft and had not started to level off. Just as I was about to say something, the controller called to remind him of the 8500 ft restr, and he immediately leveled off. The primary human factor element was my prioritization of my scan for other traffic over my attention to my student. In retrospect, I should probably have reminded my student of the importance (especially in class B airspace) of the altitude restr somewhat sooner, before we got close to it.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: INST TRAINING FLT LEAVING PHX OVERSHOOTS CLRED ALT.

Narrative: I DEPARTED PHX ARPT IN A TWIN ENG C414. I WAS THE PNF AND ACTING AS THE CFI, GIVING INST INSTRUCTION, TO A COMMERCIAL/MULTI/INST RATED PLT. WE DEPARTED VFR FROM RWY 26L (WITH A CLASS B DEP CLRNC) AND WERE SUBSEQUENTLY GIVEN A SWBOUND TURN AND A VFR CLB TO 8500 FT (RESTR TO 8500 FT). MY STUDENT WAS FLYING (UNDER THE HOOD) AND I WAS INTENTLY SCANNING FOR TFC. EVEN THOUGH I WAS TRYING TO KEEP AN EYE ON MY STUDENT, AND HIS TRACK AND ALT, I WAS VERY INTENT ON LOOKING FOR TFC IN THIS BUSY AIRSPACE. WHEN MY SCAN GOT BACK TO MY STUDENT AND HIS INSTS, I NOTICED THAT HE WAS APCHING 8800 FT AND HAD NOT STARTED TO LEVEL OFF. JUST AS I WAS ABOUT TO SAY SOMETHING, THE CTLR CALLED TO REMIND HIM OF THE 8500 FT RESTR, AND HE IMMEDIATELY LEVELED OFF. THE PRIMARY HUMAN FACTOR ELEMENT WAS MY PRIORITIZATION OF MY SCAN FOR OTHER TFC OVER MY ATTN TO MY STUDENT. IN RETROSPECT, I SHOULD PROBABLY HAVE REMINDED MY STUDENT OF THE IMPORTANCE (ESPECIALLY IN CLASS B AIRSPACE) OF THE ALT RESTR SOMEWHAT SOONER, BEFORE WE GOT CLOSE TO IT.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.